Reed protector



G. V. KNOPF REED PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED JULY2.1921.

1 110,066. Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

m l n -IHII UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE V. KN OFF, OF SANDUSKY, OHIO.

REED PROTECTOR.

1,41o,oec.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 2, 1921. Serial No. 482,234.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. Gnonon V. Know, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sandusky, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reed Protectors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to attachments for saxophones or clarinets, and particularly to attachments for protecting the reed ot such instruments. These reeds are extremely delicate and when broken have to be replaced. requiring time and patience to temper the same and secure perfect tone quality. When a musician is not playing, thesereeds, particularly on the saxophone, are constantly coming intocontact with some portion of the body and are thereby liable to become damaged, due largely to the fact that the tip of the reed is very fine and SQRSIUVQ.

Reed protectors have been devised but in most instances they require special attaching means for connecting them to the mouthpiece or they areentirely removable, similar to the removable mouth-piece cap now largely sold on the market. Those requiring special attaching means make their application expensive and most at thenrare difficult to operate. The caps being entirely removable are'constantly becoming lost or are left at some point where they are not available ior instant application immediately after the musician ceases to play. With the present protector, the cap is done away with entirely It is therefore the object at this inven- 'tion to provide {1 simple and efficient attachment which will frilly protect the reed and which may be conveniently attached to the present reed ligature.

A further object is the provision of a device of this character which may be attached to the present reed ligature and conveniently thrown into operative position or inoperative position.

Other objects of the invention Wlll appear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accompanying draw ings which form a part oi. this application and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clarinet or saxophone mouth-piece showing the protector in protecting position in full hnes and in inoperative or playing position in dotted lines Figure is a top plan view showing the protector 1n the position to protect the reed, the reed being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 3 1s a similar view with the tector thrown to inoperative position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line it- 1 of Figure 1. Referring more particularly to the draw mg, 1 represents the mouth-piece of a saxophone or clarinet, and 2 the reed which is attached thereto by a ligature comprising a pair of bands 3 and 4 connected together at their lower sides by an integral strip 5. These bands are open, as is shown in Figure 2, and have their upper ends connected together by cross-bars 6. At the terminal ends of the bands there are provided the lugs 7 and 8, the latter of which is provided with a smooth bored aperture, and the former of which is provided with a threaded opening 9 into which the clamping screws 10 are threaded. These screws, as shown in Figure 4; pass through the lugs 8 and are threaded into the lugs 7 and each provided with thumb-pieces 11 by which the tension of the ligature on the reed may be adjusted.

The reed protector comprises a body 12 consisting of a flat strip of metal, the forward end of'which is bent downwardly into a protecting lip 13 adapted to overlie the pro- tip end of the mouth-piece and the reed,

as shown in Figure 1. 'The sides of the body overlap the sides of the reed a sufficient distance to prevent accidental engagement of the reed at any point between its end and its connection with the ligature, as can be readily seen from an inspection of Figure 2.

Immediately forward of the band at of the ligature the body 12 is bent upwardly, as at 14, to provide a raised attaching end 15 extending rearwardly substantially parallel to the plane of the body and having its sideedges adjacent the terminal thereof bent downwardly into attaching ears 16 apertured to receive the rear screw 10 ot the ligature. These ears are arranged in parallel relation, as shown, and straddle the lug 8 on the rearmost band of the ligature one of said ears being clamped against the lug 8, as is shown in Figure 2, by the head of the screw 10.

As the protector body is pivotally mounted upon the screw it may be readily thrown to operative position, shown in full lines in Figure l, or to inoperative position shown in dotted lines of the same figure. The screw Patented'Mar. 21, 1922.

may be utilized to increase the tension :1 the pivot cars so that the protector can not he accidentally displaced.

These protectors are of distinct advantage as they can be thrown to operative position immediately after the musician ceases to play and as readilv thrown to inoperative position when he is again ready to use the instrument. There is nothing to become lost or displaced and the protector is attached directly to the ordinary ligature Without any auxiliary parts.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a mouth-piece and a reed securing ligature having lugs, "fastening" means passing through said lug-s tor secun ing the ligature and the reed on the mouthpiece, and a reed protector having pivotal ears straddling one of the lugs and apertured to receive the attaching screw, said protector being pivoted on the fastening means.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a mouth-piece and a separable reed securing ligature, the end portions of the ligature having;- lugs, said lugs having; apertures for the reception of tastening means, and a reed protector having: spaced ears provided on one end thereof. said ears being adapted to straddle one ot' the lugs and apertured to receive the Fastening means passing through said lug one oi said ears being clamped to said lug through the medium of said fastening means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature.

GEORGE V. .KllOPl. 

